City of Punta Gorda Adaptation Plan Southwest Florida Regional ...

natural shorelines and

natural shorelines and vegetation, placing critical facilities and shelters in locations away form and above storm surge. The primary goal of mitigation is to reduce the magnitude of climate stresses on society and ecosystems. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, for instance, can be seen as a type of "insurance policy" that aims at directly reducing the risks of global warming. Investment in the region's substantial renewable energy resources (e.g., solar, wind, and biomass) could provide incentives for new technology development and economic diversification while reducing air pollutants and greenhouse gases. The third strategy is to reduce human disturbances and destruction of ecosystems. Employing "best practices" in land and resource use can minimize ecologically harmful side effects while continuing to provide significant, and often increased, economic benefits. For example, progressive zoning initiatives that integrate different land uses over a smaller area can protect natural resources and open space from suburban sprawl. Wise land-use practices can also help manage coastal areas, and best management practices in agriculture and aquaculture can achieve goals such as water conservation and reduced farm runoff. Finally, residents, planners, land managers, and policymakers can act now to minimize the potential impacts of global climate change and better prepare the region to deal with an uncertain future through adaptation. One of the best ways to deal with uncertainty is to adopt learning-oriented, flexible approaches that include monitoring, periodic review, and adjustment of previous decisions in light of new information - a strategy known as adaptive management. The principal targets for adaptation include water resource management, agriculture and forestry, land and biodiversity conservation, and preparation of coastal communities to respond to sea level rise and severe coastal storms such as hurricanes. In addition, much must be done in the Gulf Coast region to raise awareness and understanding of global climate change. This can begin by educating people of all ages about the cultural and ecological heritage at stake. But it must also involve educating them about the fundamentals of ecology and climate, and what drives them to change. Many Gulf residents' livelihoods are inextricably linked to its natural resources, and visitors from around the world come to the Gulf to enjoy and learn about its ecological heritage. Raising people's concern and understanding of climate change would help to mobilize public support for climate protection (Twilley et al.1991). There are five generic objectives of adaptation to climate variability and change: (Klein and Tol 1997) 1. Increasing robustness of infrastructure designs and long-term investments – e.g., by extending the range of temperature or precipitation a system can withstand without failure and changing the tolerance of loss or failure; AdaptationPlan Page 44

2. Increasing the flexibility of vulnerable managed systems – e.g., by allowing mid-term adjustments (including changes of activities or location) and/or reducing economic lifetimes (including increasing depreciation); 3. Enhancing the adaptability of vulnerable natural systems – e.g., by reducing other (non-climatic) stresses and removing barriers to migration (including establishing ecocorridors); 4. Reversing trends that increase vulnerability (also termed ―maladaptation‖) – e.g., by introducing setback lines for development in vulnerable areas, such as floodplains and coastal zones; and 5. Improving societal awareness and preparedness – e.g., by informing the public of the risks and possible consequences of climate change and setting up early-warning systems. Given uncertainties and the long time frame of climate change impacts (Willows and Connell, 2003); two general types of adaptation options discussed here may often be the most appropriate and most readily funded: • No-regrets: These are options that are justified by current climate conditions, and are further justified when climate change is considered. For example, reducing water pollution could improve potable water supplies. The pollution reductions may be even more valuable should climate change reduce water supplies or degrade water quality. The same can be said for introducing market reforms. However, an irrigation scheme for a drought-prone area may become more attractive when periods of drought, as a result of climate change, occur more often or become more severe. • Low-regrets: Low regrets changes are those made because of climate change, but at a minimal cost. Thus, there is ―low regret‖ if the investment proves not to be needed under future climate conditions. For example, incorporating risks of climate change in design of infrastructure may offer improved protection against current extreme climate events, as well as potential future events under climate change, while increasing costs only marginally (hence the ―low‖ regret). AdaptationPlan Page 45